BIG to wrap Kosovo opera and ballet theatre in sculptural photovoltaic roof
Danish studio BIG has designed a curving folded roof informed by traditional Kosovan skirts for the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Kosovo in Pristina.
Created in collaboration with local architecture studio ALB-Architect, the performance venue will be home to the Kosovo Philharmonic, Ballet and Opera and contain a 1,200-capacity concert hall, a 1,000-capacity theatre hall, 300-seat recital hall and an education and conference centre.
A sculptural roof informed by the shape of the Xhubleta, a traditional bell-shaped folk skirt, will top the venue and peel away from the ground to reveal glazed facades.
The roof will be clad in photovoltaic tiles and a stone-paved public square will surround the building.
"Our design for the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Kosovo is designed like an efficient factory for the fabrication of artistic performances," said BIG founder Bjarke Ingels.
"The rational nucleus is wrapped in a continuous canopy, creating an engaging public space open in all directions," he continued.
"The undulating roof creates a flowing and inviting gesture evocative of the Xhubleta, the traditional national dress of Kosovo."
Wide outdoor staircases will flank the theatre, which is located next to the Palace of Youth and Sports, Fadil Vokrri Stadium and Public Services Ministry, to give pedestrian access through the site.
BIG designed the building to reflect Kosovo's cultural heritage while also being a contemporary venue that celebrates the country's performing arts.
"The design for the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Kosovo allows for the flexibility to accommodate the precise needs of the organisations who will occupy the spaces within, while providing a modern facility that can elicit joy and delight for future generations of visitors and performers alike," said BIG London partner Andy Young.
"The theatre's design symbolises a new era of the arts and culture of Kosovo, with the potential to touch the heart of everyone who experiences it."
A lobby connected to the four performance halls will be illuminated by a skylight.
The halls will have curved timber interiors with velvet upholstery and acoustic curtains designed to have a sculptural and inviting appearance.
Other projects recently unveiled by BIG include luxury apartments for Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi and housing for the first phase of Toyota Woven City in Japan.
The images are by Bloomimages unless otherwise stated.
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